The Pineapple, "Princess of Fruits" and Symbol of Hospitality

The Universal Orlando Foundation Library
At the Rosen College of Hospitality Management

With Assistance from:

The Orange County Regional History Center
and the UCF Libraries Special Collections Department

Please Note: This page was originally created for a small exhibit which ran August 15th
- October 14th, 2005 in the Universal Orlando Foundation Library at
the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
The exhibit is long gone, but the information presented below is still useful (also see the
sources listed in the bibliography below), so read on to learn more about the pineapple, the
symbol of hospitality!

The Pineapple

Come to the Library to see the exhibit that pays tribute
to the pineapple, the princess of fruits and the symbol of hospitality.

Since colonial times, the warm and welcoming pineapple has,
quite literally, been put on a pedestal in America. It has been used again and again
as a motif in architecture, in furniture, in textiles, in illumination, and, of
course, in food!

We hope you enjoy learning about the fascinating story of the
pineapple!

Ceramic pineapple pieces from
the exhibit

A Curious History

The pineapple (scientific name Ananas comosus)
originated centuries ago in South America, probably near present-day Brazil and
Paraguay, and indigenous peoples had spread the fruit throughout Central America
long before European explorers arrived.

A fateful interaction with Christopher Columbus propelled the
pineapple into the European (and eventually the American) consciousness. Columbus
and his crew “discovered” the pineapple in Guadeloupe in 1493 on their second (less
famous) voyage to the New World. They called it the pińa, due to its resemblance
to a pinecone, and brought the “exotic” fruit back to Spain.

Later explorers were equally enchanted. Sir Walter Ralegh,
for example, wrote of “the great abundance of Pinas, the princesse of fruits
that grow vnder the Sun” in his 1595 travelogue Discoverie of the Large, Rich,
and Bewtiful Empyre of Guiana.

It took some time for Europeans to learn to grow the prized
pineapple, which thrives in tropical climates, but by the mid-1600s it was being
produced in “hot-houses” in Holland and England. Soon thereafter, the pineapple
was introduced to Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world.

Symbol of Hospitality

American colonists began importing the pineapple from the
Caribbean in the 17th century. Due to its seemingly exotic qualities and rareness,
the pineapple soon became a symbol of hospitality in early America. Because
trade routes between America and Caribbean islands were often slow and perilous,
it was considered a significant achievement for a host to procure a ripe pineapple
for guests. Similarly, some accounts tell of New England sea captains who, upon
returning from trade routes in the Caribbean or Pacific, would place a pineapple
outside their homes as a symbol of a safe return.

Due to its association with warmth and friendliness, pineapples
in America were often used as the “crowning” piece in large displays of food.
Similarly, the pineapple symbol was used frequently in the 18th and 19th centuries
to decorate bed posts, tablecloths, napkins—anything associated with welcoming guests.
Today, the pineapple remains a fitting symbol for the hospitality industry, and
pineapple-themed products still abound. From lamps to candle holders to salt
and pepper shakers and beyond, the pineapple motif says "Welcome!"

Pineapple centerpiece from the exhibit

The Pineapple Business in America

In America, commercial production of pineapples began in
earnest in Florida in the late 19th century. In fact, for a short time, Florida
was among the world's most prolific producer's of pineapple. However, by the 1930s,
pineapple production in Florida began to fall off, largely due to changes in climate
and increased competition from central America and Hawaii.

According to some sources, pineapples were introduced to Hawaii
as early as the 16th century. But pineapples weren't canned in Hawaii until about
1885, and the American territory did not become world famous for its pineapples
until Jim Dole founded his highly successful Hawaiian Pineapple Company in 1901.
Remarkably, by the 1920s, the pineapple was Hawaii's largest industry, and, until
recently, Hawaii was the world's largest producer of canned pineapples.

Gradually, much of the world's pineapple production has shifted to central America
and Asia, where the fruit can be produced more cheaply.

Although pineapples are no longer a uniquely American product,
the symbol of hospitality still looms large in both Florida and Hawaii, for the
most important industry in both states today is... the hospitality and tourism business!

Hyles, Claudia. And the Answer is a Pineapple: The King of Fruit in Folklore, Fabric,
and Food. Burra Creek, New South Wales: Sally Milner Pub., 1998. Available in the
Library at Ros Gen Coll SB375 H935 1998